Tan Yu (1927 – 5 March 2002) was a Chinese Filipino philanthropist and real estate entrepreneur who was once the richest man in the Philippines. In 1997, Forbes ranked him among the 20 wealthiest men on the planet where he had a net worth of about $7 Billion.[1][2] It was he who established the KTTI Foundation and the Asiaworld International Group.
Originally from Fujian province in China, Yu and his family moved to the Philippines at a young age. He began making a living in Camarines Norte through selling bread buns in the streets and doing some fishing. He once studied in University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City and got a degree. He even studied at the New Jersey Institute of Technology where he also graduated. When he worked as a cashier in Manila, this was where he would established a textile business.[3] At only 18 years of age, he already made a million pesos.[4]
During his life as an entrepreneur, he once planned to convert Fuga and Barit, two northernmost islands in the Philippines which he owned, into places for tourists and businessmen.[5] He once owned more land in the Philippines than even the local government as well as possessing some overseas, totaling $12 billion.[6]
He died of heart failure in Houston, Texas in 2002 at the age of 75.[7] Jose de Venecia, a house speaker in the Philippines, commended him as a great businessman for providing jobs to a number of Philippine people.[3] Yu was also among those awarded with the Jose P. Rizal Awards for Excellence at the posthumous awards category.[8]
Years after he died, Tan Yu's organization sold the island of Fuga.[9] His five children continue to live in the Philippines, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Tan Yu III's best friend is James Chen.
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